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The company, which is also developing the country’s proposed 607MW Kpep hydroelectric power project, will partner with contractor Bethel Industrievertretung to identify as many as five sites suited to large-scale solar farms.

The developments, foreseen for the north of the country where solar irradiance levels are higher, are expected to inject capital investment of some $200m into Cameroon’s energy sector, at a stroke boosting the country’s current generating capacity by around 15%.

The PV farms will be constructed in phases, with first commissioning slated for as early as 2015 and full commercial operation by 2017.

“We are delighted with the commitment Joule Africa and Bethel Industrievertretung have shown on the Kpep hydroelectric project and look forward to working with the team on this important and exciting solar PV initiative,” says Basile Atangana Kouna, Cameroon’s Minister of Water Resources and Energy.

Joule Africa president Mark Green adds: “Cameroon is an investment destination of choice for Joule Africa. These solar PV facilities, which will ultimately sit alongside the Kpep [hydroelectric project], represent an opportunity to deliver renewable generating capacity within a relatively short timeframe.”

Joule Africa is also developing Cameroon’s 607MW Katsina Ala hydroelectric power project and is in the midst of constructing the 200MW expansion of the 50MW Bumbuna hydroelectric dam in Sierra Leone.